An individual's exercise of state of federal constitutional rights, or discrimination based on a protected characteristic when such discrimination is allowed by state, federal or local law

Passage of an ordinance that does not include explicit trans public accommodations protections may make the future inclusion of such protections that much harder, as often, the public is less willing to accept protections for trans individuals alone as opposed to when those protections are rolled up into an inclusive LGBT bill.

After passing a sexual orientation-specific statewide nondiscrimination act in 2002, New York LGBT advocates have struggled time and again to pass a bill that would provide transgender citizens with the same rights as their lesbian, gay, and bisexual counterparts.

"This deeply offensive and dangerous amendment is intended to specifically exclude me and every trans and gender-nonconforming person from participating in public life by making it almost impossible for us to attend any public event in Saginaw," teacher and trans activist Charin Hudson Davenport told The Advocate. "Schools, recreation areas, public buildings, Little Leagues, public housing -- you name it. We're not allowed. The irony is that I became legally qualified to perform same sex weddings, but if the reception is in a public place, I won't be able to use the bathroom."

Tonight's City Council meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and is open to the public.